{
 "categories": [
  "cad",
  "aec",
  "engineering"
 ],
 "deployment": "desktop",
 "evidence": [
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "homepage",
   "note": "Bentley presents MicroStation as 3D CAD software purpose-built for designing, modeling, and managing infrastructure projects, with a 12-month Virtuoso subscription starting at USD 2,656.",
   "source": "https://www.bentley.com/software/microstation/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "vendor",
   "note": "The 2026 MicroStation product data sheet is published by Bentley Systems, Incorporated and treats MicroStation as Bentley software.",
   "source": "https://www.bentley.com/wp-content/uploads/pds-microstation-2026-ltr-en-lr.pdf",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "license",
   "note": "The product page sells a commercial 12-month Virtuoso subscription that includes one license plus Keys for training or services.",
   "source": "https://www.bentley.com/software/microstation/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "deployment",
   "note": "The MicroStation 2026 ReadMe installation requirements describe a Windows desktop product installed to a workstation, with optional Azure Virtual Desktop as a virtualized environment.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/ReadMe/en/topics/369286/GUID-637B20A8-F57B-4FD0-9B4E-628574844438.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "platforms",
   "note": "Supported operating systems are Windows 11 Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education, plus Windows Server 2022 and 2025. No macOS or Linux edition is listed.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/ReadMe/en/topics/369286/GUID-637B20A8-F57B-4FD0-9B4E-628574844438.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "status",
   "note": "The MicroStation 2026 QuickInstall Guide documents the current commercial release, side-by-side install with prior versions, and shipped application options including Python.",
   "source": "https://prd-aws-docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/369286/GUID-9DF18A3F-667B-4F42-854F-5BC3D5703A6B.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.api.exists",
   "note": "Bentley developer docs describe a MicroStation Python API as a thin wrapper of the MicroStation C++ API for working with DGN files.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/aboutMSPY.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.api.kinds[0]",
   "note": "MicroStation is delivered with a Python interpreter. Scripts run in that in-process environment, can register key-ins, and call MicroStation Python libraries on the main thread. Vendor docs say Python does not run in high security mode.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/developingpythonapps.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.api.kinds[1]",
   "note": "MicroStation implements Microsoft VBA with extensions that interact with design-file elements and settings, and ships sample macros plus MicroStationVBA.chm.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123008/GUID-E4CA0EFA-7FAD-ACA4-F5BF-CCE384213BB0.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.api.kinds[2]",
   "note": "The Python API is documented as a thin wrapper of the MicroStation C++ API; C++ concepts for DGN files apply directly to Python callers.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/aboutMSPY.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.api.kinds[3]",
   "note": "Python key-in registration is documented as the same pattern used by C++ and C# add-ins, including a commands.xml key-in table.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/developingpythonapps.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.api.coverage",
   "note": "The C++ API, and the Python wrapper of it, cover DGN file work. The Python layer currently excludes dialog functions, printing APIs, callbacks, and some MstnPlatform mdl... calls.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/aboutMSPY.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.api.docs",
   "note": "Opened Bentley's iTwin developer-portal Overview for the MicroStation Python API, which hosts the public guide and reference tree.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/overview/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.exists",
   "note": "Product help states MDL applications must be rebuilt against the MicroStation SDK for the current edition and points developers to SDK documentation.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123008/GUID-0F6F7AE4-58DD-9B95-5406-040963287EA9.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.official",
   "note": "The vendor data sheet tells customers to develop solutions using Microsoft VBA, .NET, C++, C#, and Python, as well as user-defined macros.",
   "source": "https://www.bentley.com/wp-content/uploads/pds-microstation-2026-ltr-en-lr.pdf",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.languages[0]",
   "note": "MicroStation delivers Python 3.12 and builds and tests the MicroStation Python libraries against that version.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/apiversions.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.languages[1]",
   "note": "Official Python docs treat C# add-ins as a first-party command-registration peer of Python applications.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/developingpythonapps.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.languages[2]",
   "note": "Bentley documents the MicroStation C++ API as the underlying official API that Python wraps.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/aboutMSPY.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.languages[3]",
   "note": "VBA is a shipped first-party programming environment with product help, configuration variables, and MicroStationVBA.chm.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123008/GUID-E4CA0EFA-7FAD-ACA4-F5BF-CCE384213BB0.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.mcp.first_party",
   "note": "Bentley's Infrastructure AI MCP page states that Bentley MCP servers let AI applications interpret natural language and programmatically construct and control the Bentley Python API, with user approval and security.",
   "source": "https://www.bentley.com/en/infrastructure-ai/mcp-servers/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.mcp.verdict",
   "note": "A Bentley blog dated 2026-08-14 names a MicroStation MCP Server, shows Claude using MCP to call the MicroStation API, and says Claude, Gemini, GitHub Copilot, and Bentley Copilot work with MCP-enabled Bentley products.",
   "source": "https://blog.bentley.com/insights/no-code-no-problem-engineers-software/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.mcp.third_party",
   "note": "Bounded official-registry query for microstation returned {\"servers\":[],\"metadata\":{\"count\":0}}. Registry silence is discovery only and does not prove absence of the vendor server.",
   "source": "https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/v0.1/servers?search=microstation",
   "tier": "scraped"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.mcp.verdict",
   "note": "The BentleySystems GitHub org publishes openstaad-mcp for STAAD.Pro. The same public org listing has no MicroStation MCP repository.",
   "source": "https://github.com/BentleySystems/openstaad-mcp",
   "tier": "scraped"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.cli.exists",
   "note": "msbatch batchprocess <job.bprc> starts MicroStation without its normal graphical interface and runs a saved batch-process job, logging progress to a console window and the job log file.",
   "source": "https://prd-aws-docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026.0.1/Help/en/topics/123009/GUID-3C9B4E83-F31A-0490-2990-3A9F62A888BD.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.extensibility.scripting[0]",
   "note": "Python Manager is the product UI for creating, editing, and running Python scripts, with examples under PowerPlatformPython and a link to the MicroStation Python API.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation%20Help-v27/en/GUID-6E9A8001-117D-44FB-94A0-1825A390817C.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.extensibility.scripting[1]",
   "note": "VBA projects and sample macros are a documented scripting path with MS_VBA* configuration variables.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123008/GUID-E4CA0EFA-7FAD-ACA4-F5BF-CCE384213BB0.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.extensibility.scripting[2]",
   "note": "MDL applications extend MicroStation in-process, can add key-ins and menus, and load with MDL LOAD. Prior-edition MDL apps must be rebuilt with the current SDK.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123008/GUID-0F6F7AE4-58DD-9B95-5406-040963287EA9.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.extensibility.scripting[3]",
   "note": "C# add-ins are documented as a first-party way to register MicroStation key-ins via commands.xml.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/developingpythonapps.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.extensibility.scripting[4]",
   "note": "Python applications register key-ins through PythonKeyinManager.LoadCommandTableFromXml, matching the C++ and C# add-in command table.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/developingpythonapps.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[0]",
   "note": "Save As writes MicroStation V8 DGN files (.dgn).",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/122973/GUID-202B553F-8976-6B6C-9015-5980D28B2206.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[1]",
   "note": "Save As writes Autodesk Drawing Files (*.dwg) with remapping, reference, and filter options.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123016/GUID-55D191AB-B770-6C79-1BB5-EE25AB8ECC05.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[2]",
   "note": "Save As writes Autodesk DXF Files (*.dxf).",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123016/GUID-55D191AB-B770-6C79-1BB5-EE25AB8ECC05.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[3]",
   "note": "File > Export > Exchange File Types > IFC (*.ifc) exports DGN, DWG, and DXF to IFC, including IFC 4x3.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123015/GUID-449CDD49-E6D5-C0A2-4A9F-1FDEF7B42B12.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[0]",
   "note": "The native design-file format is DGN; Save As and backup operate on the open DGN file.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/122973/GUID-202B553F-8976-6B6C-9015-5980D28B2206.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[1]",
   "note": "The 2026 data sheet lists Autodesk RealDWG share and consume, plus live referencing of 2D/3D DGN and DWG files.",
   "source": "https://www.bentley.com/wp-content/uploads/pds-microstation-2026-ltr-en-lr.pdf",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[2]",
   "note": "The 2026 data sheet lists DXF among formats MicroStation aggregates and assembles.",
   "source": "https://www.bentley.com/wp-content/uploads/pds-microstation-2026-ltr-en-lr.pdf",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[3]",
   "note": "IFC files can be attached as references, placed as cells, opened read-only, and imported as DGN. IFC files open as read-only.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123015/GUID-449CDD49-E6D5-C0A2-4A9F-1FDEF7B42B12.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.rpa.ui_stack[0]",
   "note": "MicroStation 2026 is a Windows desktop application. No UI-automation probe was run, so drivability stays unknown.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/ReadMe/en/topics/369286/GUID-637B20A8-F57B-4FD0-9B4E-628574844438.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "modalities.agent_docs.llms_txt",
   "note": "Opened https://www.bentley.com/llms.txt and received a 404 page. That is a homepage-host fallback page, not agent documentation.",
   "source": "https://www.bentley.com/llms.txt",
   "tier": "scraped"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "verdict.scores.api",
   "note": "Official Python, VBA, C++, and C# surfaces are broad enough for production DGN work and are documented, but they are licensed, Windows-bound, in-process, and the Python layer has stated gaps. That is the 7-8 band, not a public cloud API.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/aboutMSPY.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "verdict.scores.mcp",
   "note": "Vendor MCP is a first-party preview that drives Bentley Python APIs. A companion vendor blog names MicroStation MCP, but the official registry listed no server and BentleySystems GitHub publishes STAAD MCP rather than a public MicroStation MCP repo. Score is the limited-preview 5-6 band.",
   "source": "https://www.bentley.com/en/infrastructure-ai/mcp-servers/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "verdict.scores.cli",
   "note": "Official startup switches plus msbatch.bat make local batch work practical, but the path depends on an installed licensed engine, saved .bprc jobs, and is not a structured resource CLI.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123008/GUID-84C0CCE2-ED46-BF49-0BB3-B4D3E077D5F5.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[0].url",
   "note": "Opened Bentley's Infrastructure AI MCP servers page. Direct curl followed a silent-sign-in hop; the fetched page states MCP control of the Bentley Python API.",
   "source": "https://www.bentley.com/en/infrastructure-ai/mcp-servers/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[1].url",
   "note": "Opened the public markdown for About MicroStation Python, including the C++-wrapper statement and Python-layer exclusions.",
   "source": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/aboutMSPY.md",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[2].url",
   "note": "Opened the MicroStation 2026 command-line arguments help, including -WA for MDL startup and workspace/workset switches.",
   "source": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123008/GUID-84C0CCE2-ED46-BF49-0BB3-B4D3E077D5F5.html",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[3].url",
   "note": "Opened the current MicroStation product page, including commercial Virtuoso pricing and infrastructure CAD positioning.",
   "source": "https://www.bentley.com/software/microstation/",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-01",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[4].url",
   "note": "Opened the official MCP registry search for microstation; the JSON body listed zero servers.",
   "source": "https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/v0.1/servers?search=microstation",
   "tier": "scraped"
  }
 ],
 "freshness": {
  "last_verified": "2026-09-01",
  "volatility": "high",
  "watch": [
   {
    "type": "mcp",
    "url": "https://www.bentley.com/en/infrastructure-ai/mcp-servers/"
   },
   {
    "type": "sdk",
    "url": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/guides/aboutMSPY.md"
   },
   {
    "type": "cli",
    "url": "https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation-v2026/Help/en/topics/123008/GUID-84C0CCE2-ED46-BF49-0BB3-B4D3E077D5F5.html"
   },
   {
    "type": "docs",
    "url": "https://www.bentley.com/software/microstation/"
   },
   {
    "type": "registry",
    "url": "https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io/v0.1/servers?search=microstation"
   }
  ]
 },
 "homepage": "https://www.bentley.com/software/microstation/",
 "id": "bentley-microstation",
 "license": "commercial",
 "modalities": {
  "agent_docs": {
   "llms_txt": false
  },
  "api": {
   "auth": [],
   "coverage": "full",
   "docs": "https://developer.bentley.com/documentation/microstation-python-api/overview/",
   "exists": true,
   "kinds": [
    "python-in-process",
    "vba",
    "cpp-in-process",
    "csharp"
   ]
  },
  "cli": {
   "exists": true
  },
  "computer_use": {
   "issues": [],
   "viability": "unknown"
  },
  "data_access": {
   "export": [
    "dgn",
    "dwg",
    "dxf",
    "ifc"
   ],
   "import": [
    "dgn",
    "dwg",
    "dxf",
    "ifc"
   ]
  },
  "extensibility": {
   "scripting": [
    "python",
    "vba",
    "mdl",
    "csharp-addins",
    "key-ins"
   ],
   "webhooks": "unknown"
  },
  "integrations": {
   "make": "unknown",
   "n8n": "unknown",
   "power_automate": "unknown",
   "zapier": "unknown"
  },
  "mcp": {
   "first_party": true,
   "third_party": [],
   "verdict": "official"
  },
  "rpa": {
   "drivability": "unknown",
   "notes": "No repeatable UI probe was run. MicroStation's Python API, VBA, MDL applications, C# add-ins, key-ins, and msbatch.bat provide supported object-model and batch control without visually driving the Windows desktop UI. Computer-use viability is unassessed.\n",
   "ui_stack": [
    "windows-native"
   ],
   "vendor_support": []
  },
  "sdk": {
   "exists": true,
   "languages": [
    "python",
    "csharp",
    "cpp",
    "vba"
   ],
   "official": true
  }
 },
 "name": "Bentley MicroStation",
 "platforms": [
  "windows"
 ],
 "related": {
  "alternatives": [
   "autocad",
   "revit",
   "ptc-creo",
   "tekla-structures"
  ],
  "our_products": []
 },
 "schema_version": 1,
 "score_version": 1,
 "status": "active",
 "vendor": "Bentley Systems",
 "verdict": {
  "best_path": "api",
  "scores": {
   "api": 8,
   "cli": 6,
   "computer_use": null,
   "integrations": null,
   "mcp": 6,
   "overall": 8,
   "rpa": null
  },
  "summary": "MicroStation is automatable today through first-party desktop APIs on a licensed Windows install. The shipped MicroStation Python API is a thin wrapper of the C++ API and runs inside the product's Python 3.12 interpreter via Python Manager; it can create and edit DGN elements, register key-ins, and run delivered libraries, but vendor docs exclude dialog, printing, callback, and some MstnPlatform surfaces, require the main Python thread, and do not run under high security mode. VBA macros interact with design-file elements and settings. MicroStation Development Libraries extend the product in-process, load via key-in or the Applications dialog, and need a rebuild against the current MicroStation SDK. C# add-ins are the documented peer of Python key-in registration. These layers cover production modeling work but are install-bound, edition coupled, and not a public authenticated HTTP API. This record is the MicroStation desktop modeler only; it excludes AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, STAAD.Pro, and iTwin Platform cloud APIs. Bentley documents first-party MCP servers that construct and control Bentley Python APIs, and a vendor blog names a MicroStation MCP Server used with Claude to drive the MicroStation API. That MCP path is not established as generally available: the official MCP registry returned no MicroStation server, and the vendor GitHub org publishes openstaad-mcp for STAAD.Pro rather than a public MicroStation MCP repository. Official command-line arguments and msbatch.bat run saved batch-process jobs without the normal GUI. Named Zapier, Make, Power Automate, and n8n connectors were not assessed. Computer-use viability is unassessed.\n"
 }
}